Chronicles of Forgotten Extra

Did I really enter some parallel universe or something?

With a sigh, Alden pressed the elevator button as the lift arrived within seconds.

Thankfully nobody was there this time.

For a socially awkward person like him, that was a blessing.

Who even enjoys that coffin-silence of an elevator ride?

He entered the lift.

Within seconds the soft chime of lift rang again as the door opened.

The same lobby as always greeted him.

His friends were standing at the edges near the entrance.

Looking at them, Alden felt calm.

The temple, the failed possibility, the spectators, and all other bullshit that clouded his mind slipped away for a while…

…at least until he heard the obnoxious voice.

Who else but Seles.

"You seem quite fine for someone who was missing for a few days?" She spoke with her usual smile.

She was standing just beside the lift as if she had been waiting for it.

Her blonde hair was tied up in a pony, and she wore a white-colored uniform, the one that patients wore.

Many bandages were tied around her arms, and she was limping.

"Pfft…" Alden just couldn't hold his laugh back seeing her in this situation as if she had been hit by a car driven by life itself.

"Unfortunately, I can't say the same about you." He replied, politely, of course.

Seles just gritted her teeth and entered the lift as Alden exited.

"Don't worry, you won't be suffering for long, sister…" Alden said one last thing, like the caring brother he was.

…because I will kill you soon.

He didn't say the last part out loud and just stood as the lift door closed.

Through the small gap, he saw a flicker of surprise across Seles's face.

But he just smiled politely.

He hadn't forgotten how she tried to kill him.

And if there was one thing he learned in his last trial.

Regrets hit you long after you have nothing left to care for.

And that regret is what breaks humans.

He had seen his failed possibility drowned in a sea of regrets.

Although he didn't know what had happened, he was sure this obnoxious bitch definitely had some part in it.

He had been cautious… too damn cautious about killing her, thinking about backlash from the Draven family and from the world.

But now, his thoughts have changed slightly.

Maybe because of what he had seen in the temple, but he didn't want to waste his present by thinking about the future.

He wasn't reckless—not yet. But he had a plan.

… a plan to dispose of Seles during inter-academy without revealing who did it.

He could just hire some assassins, with the help of an obsidian fortress, it would be a lot easier.

But he wasn't about to trust some unknown guy to kill the female lead of the story… And more than that, he didn't trust the assassin to keep his mouth shut.

So, he was going to do it by himself.

"Yo bro, whatcha thinking so much about?" A hand curled around Alden all of a sudden, snapping him out of his thoughts. "And where the hell have you been the last few days? Don't tell me the rumors were true."

Alden didn't flinch, he had already felt the presence of this guy.

Aziel.

"What rumors?" Alden asked curiously.

Aziel looked around cautiously. "You know, Nyx hadn't been seen recently, and you vanished as well, so people had been talking that you eloped—"

Before he could complete his sentence, a cold voice echoed, freezing Aziel. "What are you talking about?"

Amyra had arrived with Cecilia beside her.

"Cough…" Aziel forced a laugh, pretending to clear his throat. "Just making small talk. That's all. Right, bro?"

Amyra narrowed her eyes, but before she could say anything, Aziel walked forward.

"Ohh, look at the time, we are late."

He didn't give any chance to speak before dragging Alden with him.

"Will tell you other details afterwards." Aziel whispered.

—

After a few more minutes, Alden and his group arrived in a grand hall situated within the academy campus.

The place where the Academy's private teleportation relay was located.

Alden saw many students gathered around the hall.

Just then, Alden felt a glare directed his way.

He turned as his lips curled to form a smile.

He waved his hands towards the boy shooting death threats through his gaze.

Who else but his previous half-brother, Rodrick Draven.

Alden deliberately smiled because his smile pissed Rodrick off more than any insults could.

Rodrick was the student council president. So, him being here wasn't something strange.

He would probably even be assigned to inter-academy duty.

Third years weren't allowed to participate. Instead, they were given moderation jobs across the artificial island.

And Rodrick, being student council president, was their leader.

His face scrunched up seeing Alden's smile, but he didn't say anything and just turned his head.

With his little greeting to his half-brother done, Alden scanned the chambers again.

There were more than 100 students present here.

According to what he had been told, thirty were from the first year and thirty were from the second year.

The remaining forty were the ones on staff duty.

Within the crowd, he even saw Seraphina Draven, his half-sister.

She looked at him, her mouth moving as if to say something or even greet him, as if he could even hear her within so many students and so much distance between them.

But before any word could take shape, Alden turned his head.

It was already too late for whatever she was trying to salvage.

The physical distance wasn't much.

But the emotional one had been stretched—frayed—and torn far beyond anything words could sew back together.

He turned his gaze back to his friends.

"Where is Zephyr? Don't tell me he didn't make it."

Alden couldn't imagine Zephyr missing an event like this—not when there was a chance to fight stronger opponents. That kind of opportunity was practically bait for him.

Did something happen? Was he the one injured today?

No… that couldn't be it.

One look at Seles earlier had been enough.

The limp, the bandages, the uniform—she was the one Amyra had mentioned. The one who had gotten injured so badly that even high-grade potions couldn't fix her overnight.

So then…

Where the hell is Zephyr?

"Ah, he arrived a few days ago," Aziel chimed in casually. "Said he wanted to check the place out early to see if there were any strong people lurking around."

"What about Nyx? Where did she go?"

His eyes swept the crowd again. No trace of her.

Strange.

He had seen her near the lift not long ago.

She should be here by now…

So where the hell was she?